Amusement device



Oct. 14 1924.

J. C. DOWNIE AMUSEMENT DEVICE Filed Feb. 19. 192:5

2 Sheets-Sheet. 1

Jfdflwzz'e, I :WITNIUR y 4 min Oct. 14 1924. 1,511,272

J. c. DOWNIE AIUSEIBNT DEVICE fiIed'Feb. 19. 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 N E'NTUR own l FITTDRNEY Patented Oct. 14, 1924.

UNITED STATES JAMES QOOK DOWNIE, OF PEBBLE BEACH, CALIFORNIA.

AMUSEMENT DEVICE.

Application filed February 19, 1923.

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, JAMES COOK DowNIE. a citizen of the United States, residing at Pebble Beach, in the county of Monterey and State of California, have invented new ant useful Improvements in Amusement Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in amusement devices, and has particular reference to a game which will simulate the plays usually made during a golf game.

The principal object of this invention is to provide simple means whereby a player may strike at a golf ball thereby causing a dummy ball to travel over a field for a distance depending upon the strength of the drive.

A still further object is to provide means for returning the dummy ball to its initial or starting position after the same has traveled across the course.

A still further object is to provide a device of this character Which will be cheap to manufacture and one which will stand hard usage without the parts becoming deranged.

Other objects and advantages will beapparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and in which like numerals are employed todesignate like parts throughout the same,

Figure 1 is a top plan view of my device as a whole,

Figure 2 is a side elevation of Figure 1, partly broken away in order to better illustrate the interior mechanism,

Figure 3 is a cross section taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrow,

Figure 1 is a fragmentary detail view of the audible signal mechanism,

Figure 5 is a cross section taken on the line 55 of Figure 1, and

Figure 6 is a cross section taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 5, looking in the direc tion of the arrow.

In producing an amusement device it is essential that the same simulate a popular pastime in order to be attractive to the average individual.

I have therefore produced an amusement device having a putting green where the player stands and strikes at a ball held a Serial no. 620,046.

slight distance above the surface of the green and have further provided a fair way which is painted to represent a distant scene, such as the player would view upon the golf links, thus producing a game which is attractive to the average individual.

In the accompanying drawings wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 5 designates a'platform elevated a suitable distance above the ground and provided with a driving tee 6, which is preferably made of carpet, and set flush with the top of the platform 5.

An opening 7 is centrally positioned in form so as to provide for the rotation of a series of balls 8. These balls are mounted upon rods 9, which rods are in turn secured to a shaft 11. This shaft 11 is mounted in bearings shown at 12 and 13, which bear- 'the carpet and extends through the plat- 22 and 23 and is secured to a yoke 2d carried by the pulley 21.

A weight 26 is secured to the pulley 23, the purpose of which will be later seen. cable 27 is wrapped about the drum 17 and extends beneath a runway 30. It is obvious that this runway 30 may be omitted if desired.

way from the platform 5 are standards 28 and 29. The standards 28 serve to support the front end of a rectangular housing 31, while the standards 29 serve to support the rear end of thehousing and by viewing Figures 1 and 2, it will be noted that this Positioned at the opposite end of the run- 1 housing tapers from the standards-28 tothe forward end of the bottomportion of the housing 31.

Similar pulleys 37 and '38 are positioned nearer the end of the runway at .a point beneath the pulley 36. By viewing Flgure 2, it will be noted that the cable 27 is passed beneath the pulley 38 over the pulley 34, over the surface of the bottom of the housing, over the pulley 36 under the pulley 37 and back to its point of commencement. At a suitable point within this cable I place a tension spring 89 in order that the cable may at all times be .kept taut.

At 41 I have shown a miniature golf ball secured to the cable, 27. This golf ball is adapted to travel from a point adj acent the pulley 36 to a point adjacent the pulley 34. l Vhen this ball has reached a point adjacent the pulley 34, it will strike a trap 42 hinged as at 48 which trap will contact a binding post 44, which binding post is connected by a wire '46 to a battery 47, and is in turn connected to a bell 48, the oppositeside of which is connected by a wire 49 to the trap 42.

Painted upon the lower surface of the housing 31 are infdicia which when the ball reaches the same the extent or distance of the drive may be determined.

The operation of my device is as follows The player stands upon the platform 5 swinging his club in such a manner as to strike one of the bail-1S8 which is projecting through the opening 7. This striking of the ball imparts rotation to the shaft 11 also rotating the spool 1.6and drum 17. As the spool 16 rotates in a clock wise direction the cable 18 is wound uponlthe spool which also causes the weight 2.6 to :rise toward the undersurface of the platform at the same time the rotation :of the drum 17 causes the cable 27 to move together with its attached "min ature golf ball 41. This golf ball proceeds over the lower surface of the housing and the player watches the same until it comes to a stop over .a marking which inof rest the weight 26 starts to function and travel downward. This downward travel causes an unwinding of the cable from the spool 16 with the result that the cable 27 moves in a reverse direction, thus returning the miniature ball 41 to its natural or starting position.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes in the shape,

size and arrangement of parts may-be re sorted to without departing from thespirit of the invention or the scope of the sub joined claims.

Having thus described my invent-ion, I claim V 1. In a device of the character described, a plat-form, a housing, a runway extending between said housing and said platform, 'a shaft positioned beneath said platform, a series of balls radially disposed with respect to said shaft, a drum mounted on said shaft, a cable secured about said drum, said cable extending; beneath said runway to a point beneath said housing, one portion of said cab-1e being trained so as to lie parallel with the upper surface of the floor of said housing, a ball secured to said cable in such a manner as to move over the floor of said housing when said cable is moved, and

secured beneath said platform, the opposite end of said cord being secured to said spool,

and means connected with .said shaft for causing said first mentioned ball to move over said course when said shaft is rotated through the action of striking one of the radially disposed balls. 7 V

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature. I

JAMES oooK'DowNiE. 

